Energy elevation and economic analysis of canola production in Iran a case study: Mazandaran province

Energy in agriculture is important in terms of crop production and agroprocessing for value adding. Canola is one of important rapeseed that it is tilled in dry farming systems in north of Iran. The aims of this study were to determine direct input energy and indirect energy in dry farming canola production, to investigate the efficiency of energy consumption and to make an economic analysis of canola farming in Behshahr County of Iran. Data were collected from 62 canola farms by using a face to face questionnaire method. The results revealed that canola production consumed a total of 28705.3 MJ/ha of which chemical fertilizer and diesel fuel energy consumption was 65.5% and 30%, respectively. Output Energy was 41230 MJ/ha. Output– input energy ratio and specific energy of production were 1.44 and 15.1 MJ/kg, respectively. Nonrenewable energy was 99% total input energy that concluded that canola production needs to improve the efficiency of energy consumption in production and to employ renewable energy. Total cost ware was 641.1 USD and Benefit cost ratio and net income ware 0.86 and 550 USD respectively.